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GWI Releases New Wellness Data

Keep an eye on thermal and mineral springs as a growing area for wellness.

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By: Christine Esposito

Editor-in-Chief

The mineral and hot springs market is expected to grow through 2029. (Shutterstock/AnnaTamila)

According to the Global Wellness Institute’s Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2025, the global wellness market has doubled since 2013, and grew 7.9% from 2023 to 2024, reaching a new peak of $6.8 trillion.

Source: GWI

GWI is declaring the pandemic recovery complete. All 11 wellness sectors as tracked by GWI—including beauty and personal care—have exceeded their 2019 values, most by significant margins. In addition, every regional wellness market has experienced major growth over the last five years, with North America up 7.9% specifically.

Catalysts for future growth will include the aging population, rampant chronic disease and mental unwellness as well as a market newly focused on prevention and longevity, according to GWI, the nonprofit organization that provides critical research, programs and initiatives related to the wellness economy.

The categories predicted to show the biggest gains through 2029 by annual growth rate are wellness real estate (15.8%), traditional & complementary medicine (10.8%), mental wellness (10.1%) and thermal/mineral springs (10%).

Personal Care & Beauty: Mature, Steady Growth

GWI describes personal care and beauty as one of its “mature and steady growth sectors.”

Source: GWI

Hot Opportunity: Thermal Springs

GWI’s experts say hundreds of thermal/mineral springs-based destinations are in the global investment pipeline. GWI describes social bathhouses and water-based destinations as a “huge global trend.”

GWI also predicts the $147 billion personalized medicine market is expected to see a rapid 9.3% yearly growth through 2029, as longevity-seeking consumers rush to diagnostic services and personalized health optimization.

By 2029, six wellness sectors—personal care & beauty; healthy eating, nutrition, & weight loss; physical activity; wellness tourism; wellness real estate; and traditional & complementary medicine—will exceed $1 trillion in market size.

TCM, Ayurveda and Infrared Light Therapy

Mental wellness segments with powerful annual growth over last five years include cannabis products (26%), meditation and mindfulness (18.9%), and sleep (12.6%), according to GWI.

Traditional and complementary medicine is projected as the No. 2 future gainer (10.8% annually) in the vast wellness landscape. According to GWI, this projected rise stems from Ayurveda, TCM and herbal medicines growing more infused in supplements/products, but also because the category includes other longevity and biohacking approaches, such as infrared light therapy, cryotherapy and IV drips.

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